Method and apparatus for making building materials or the like



May 2, 1939- N. P. HARSHBERGER 2,155,286

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BUILDING MATERIALS OR THE LIKE Filed June l5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIllllllfl'llllllllllllll ATTORNEY May 2, 1939. N. P. HARSHBERGER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BUILDING MATERIALS OR THE LIKE Filed June l5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @fir R Y w w mw .n fw BJ M M May z, 1939.

N. FA HARSHBERGER MISTI-10il AND APPARATUS FOR MAKNG BUILTNG MATEFIALS OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June l5, 1935 ATTORNEY May 2; 1939- N. P. HARSHBERGER 2,156,286

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BUILDING MATERIALS OR THE LIKE Filed June 15, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY M4 ATTORNEY May 2, 1939.

N.l P. HARSHBERGER METHOD AND APPARATUS F'OR MAKING BUILDING MATERIALS OR THE LIKE Filed June .15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SWE ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BUILDING MATERIALS OR THE LIKE' Norman Il'. Harshberger, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to Bakelite Building Products Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware v Application June 15, 1935, Serial No. 26,770

15 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of roofing materials andthe like and more particularly to a method and apparatus for applying a cement composition coating to a base such as an impregnated web having an asphalt coating in which mineral granules are embedded, commonly called asphalt roofing material. The web may be continuous or may be cut into sections corresponding to shingles or the like.

More specifically the invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for making a cement coated, semi-rigid shingle or roofing of the type shown in my Patent No. 1,913,667 for Shingle element and method of making same, dated June 13, 1933.

An object of the invention is to provide an efllicient, dependable and commercially practical machine of the type above indicated.

Another object is to provide a proc-ess and 2o apparatus for applying the cement composition under conditions adapted to form a uniform coating which is thoroughly bonded to the underlying material.

, Another object is to provide a machine for the above purpose which is cheap and simple to construct and easy. to operate, and which may be f readily controlled to vary the thickness and distribution of the cement composition.

Another object is to provide mechanism for simultaneously applying two or more different compositions to selected parts of the surface.

Another object is to provide means to control the moisture content of theV cement which is applied to the web or base. l

applying quick setting compositions, such as hydraulic cement or other adhesive coatings.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description. v t A. feature of the invention consists in forciblyv impelling the cement; against the webso as to cause the cement to penetrate the surface and to.- become bonded to the asphalt layer and. tothe.

mineral granules.

roll and to forcibly throw the same onto a web 'which is moving linearly with respect thereto.

The impeller is out of contact with the web andV is positioned to effect la predetermined distribu 55 tion of the cement composition thereover.

In onen-embodiment this is accomplished bya of Fig 4 feeding the cement at a predetermined rate from- Aahopper to a moving belt or roll with which a1 rotating brush' or impeller cooperates. Thebrush or impeller is rotated at a speed adapted 5o to pick the cement composition fromthebelt or,

Another feature of the invention consists in4 the use of grooved rolls to withdraw the cement from the hopper, the cement being carried in the grooves and removed therefrom by the impeller.

In one embodiment the cement is mixed with avliquid before being placed in the hopper. In certain instances, however, particularly for quick setting or iiash setting cements, a dry cement may be fe'd from the hopper to a wet roll, whereby .the cement and/or aggregate is hydratedat practically the instant of application to the web. The quantity'of liquid `applied to the roll `may be controlled in accordance with the requirements of the particularcement employed. This type of operation may be continuous because the cement has no opportunity to set or change its characteristics in the hopper.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of a. circular orv oval hopper to eliminate corners or the like in which cement l might remain to become dryor hard so as to interfere with the emcient operation of the device. f I

The invention also provides for treating the web or base with the cement composition either before or after cutting into desired shapes such as shingle elements.

Otherfeatures'consist in thevarious details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully'set forth.,

The broader aspects of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken'in connection with the accompanying drawingsv forming a part thereof, in Another bject is to provide a machine for:

which. certain preferred embodiments have been described' in detail, for purposes of illustration.

A `In the drawings: l i l Fig. 1 is' a side elevation-.of a machine constructed in accordance Withone embodiment of fthe' present invention;v l

Fig-:2" is atopplan View thereof; s

Fig. 3 is a .horizontal sectionv of the cement applying mechanism taken along the line 3--3 4rig. '4 4is 'a longitudinaleseotionftaken on the line 4f-j-4 of Fig. '3; f 5 'is .aver'tical lsectionftaken along the line 5-''5' of Fig. 4 showing the vvl;allle'rila.te and vibrating mechanism; g

rige is a detail view o f the cutting ron; -Fi'gf is a longitudinal section showing a mod# .,iedtypeoffeedroll; l

. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of .a machine illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

'55 y applied thereto. Mounted below the hoppers 28 k'and-29, and forming the bottoms of said hoppers,

line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1G is a transverse section showing the invention as embodied in a mechanism for applying dry cement to a wet roll;

Fig. 11 is a section along the line l||| of Fig. 10;

Fig. -12 is a top plan view of a. diderent form. of hopper for feeding cement to the roll;

Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the roll and hopper of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section through a cement applying mechanismdllustratinga further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of a. device for applying hot material, suchas asphalt, to a web;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section taken on the line |6|6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of a roll having wire wrapped around the surface thereof to form cement feeding grooves; and

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a machine for applying a colored coating to a textured surface. y

In the following description and in the claims various details are referred to by specific terms for convenience. These terms, however, are to be given as broad an interpretation as the state of the art will permit.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a machine is shown for applying wet cement from a hopper onto a moving web, such as a web coated with a layer of asphalt in which mineral granules are embedded, commonly known as asphalt roofing material.v

The machine in general comprises a frame 20 i carrying suitable bearings by which the various rolls to be described are supported and forming a base to which the various hoppers are secured.

An endless conveyor belt 2| conveys a web 22 of the type above described, from a reel 23 past the cement applying mechanism 24, to a pull roll assembly 25 and a cutting roll 26 by which it is cut into the desired lengths, such as lengths corresponding to individual shingle elements or groups of shingle elements. The elements are fed out of the nmachine by an. endless conveyor belt 21. Y

Considering the machine more in detail, the cement applying mechanism 24 may comprise a pair of hoppers 28, 29 (Figs. 3 to 5),mounted upon the frame 26 in a convenient position above the moving web 22. These hoppers preferably extend across the entire web and are adapted to contain a wet cement composition which is to be are a pair of feed rolls 36, 3|, respectively. having shafts v32, 33 journaled in suitable bearings on the frameY 20. The feed rolls 30, 3| may have rgrooveci surfaces formed by helical grooves 24 14 turns to the inch. It is obvious, however, that the specic size and shape will depend upon the speed of operation and upon the consistency of the material to be fedl thereby. In some instances a roll with a plane surface or a soft surface may Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section taken along the n be preferred. The hoppers 28 or 29 may also have an adjustable gate similar to the gate |31 of Fig. 11 (to be described) to control the rate of feed of material to the rolls 3|), 3|.

Impellers 35, 36, carried by shafts 31, 38, respectively, in the frame 26, are positioned to contact with the surfaces of the rolls 30 and 3| or only with the composition being fed thereby, depending upon the type of operation, the nature of the composition and the desired characteristics of the nished surfacing. These impellers are elevated above the web 22 and are out of contact therewith. The impellers may constitute brushes having bristles formed of wire or fibre or other suitable material which is adapted to flex when it engages the surface of the rolls so as to enter the various grooves 34 and remove the cement composition therefrom. The speed and direction of rotation of the impellers is such that the cement composition is forcibly driven against the upper face of the web 22. As viewed in Fig. 4, the impeller 35, for example, may rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The feed r'oll 30 may rotate in a clockwise direction so as to remove the material from the hopper 28 and to carry the same to the point of contact of the impeller 35. In some instances, however, such as with materials that will adhere to the roll, it may be desirable to cause the feed roll 30 to rotate in the opposite direction, in which case the composition will adhere to the surface thereof until it is removed by the impeller 35, the operation being substantially the same in either case. The feed roll 3| and impeller 36 rotate in opposite directions from the feed roll 30 and impeller 35 and operate in the same manner. Power may be applied for rotating the impellers 35, 36 and the feed rolls 30, 3| by any suitable means, such for example, as a belt (not shown) engaging a puiley 4|! (Fig. 2) carried upon the shaft 32. The impeller 35 may be driven by a set of gears 4| mounted on the shafts 32 and 31. The impeller 36 and the feed roll 3| may be driven from the shaft 31 by means of cooperating gears 42. It is noted that the gears 4|, 42 are so arranged that the impellers 35, 36 are driven at ahigher speed than the feed rolls 30, 3|. specific type of driving mechanism for the various rolls may be varied as desired. A specific embodiment has been shown for purposes of illustration only. The impellers may be driven, by a separate motor if desired in order to obtain the required difference in speed between the impellers and the feed rolls.

One of the hoppers. for example, the hopper 29, may be divided longitudinally as by a. plate 45 (Fig. 3) into a. pair of chambers which may receive different compositions, as for example compositions of different color. A longitudinal baille 46 may be mounted adjacent the impeller 36 so as to separate the two compositions as they are impelled onto the web 22 whereby the surface will show .a distlnct.line of division, such as between two colors. 'I'he baiiie 46 may have an opening 4'| (Fig. 5) to pass over the bristles of the impeller 35 or the bristles may be separated by a channel 48 to receive the baille.

In certain instances the wet cement may adhere to the sides of the baiiie 46. Hence means may be provided for vibrating the baille so as to dislodge the cement and to prevent the same from adhering thereto. For this purpose, the baflle'46 may be slidably mounted on a pair of transverse rods 50 and held by springs 5| against stops 52 carried by said rods. A pin 53 may be It is obvious that the slidably carried in a vbearing 54 in the frame 28 in a position to bear against a cam 55 which may be mounted on, for example, the shaft 38 and may be adapted to rotate therewith. As the cam 55 rotates, the pin 54 is caused to reciprocate transversely and to cause a corresponding movement of the baftie plate 46.

It is to be understood that more than one dividing plate may be employed 'so as to divide the hopper into more than two chambers, if desired, in which case corresponding baiiie plates may be mounted on therods 50 and may be vibrated in a manner similar to that described above. A speciflc vibrating mechanism is shown merely as an example. Other suitable vibrating devices may be employed. In some instances, it may be desirable to vibrate the baille vertically, using any well known equipment for this purpose.

In the operation of the cement applying mchanism above described, a wetcement composition is placed in each of the hoppers 28, 29 and power is supplied for rotating the feed rolls 30, 3| and the impellers 35, 36. The feed rolls then feed predetermined quantities of the cement composition from the hoppers to the point of contact of the impellers by which the composition is forcibly driven against the face of the moving web 22. In the case of a web having an asphalt coating in which mineral particles are embedded, the force may be sufficient to cause the cement composition to penetrate the surface of the asphalt between the granules and to make a firm bond therewith. It is obvious that the thickness of 'the cement layer thus applied may be controlled'by the rate of feed of the cement from the hoppers. This may be controlled by varying the speed of rotation of the feed rolls or the shape or sizeof the grooves 34 or both and/or the speed of the web. The speed of the impellers may be controlled so as to cause the cement to be impelled with the necessary force for the above purpose. It is obvious that, if the desired thickness of cement is applied from one hopper, the second may be omitted. It is also obvious that either or both of the hoppers may be divided longitudinally for applying different compositions'to the web as may be required.

In certain instances it may be desired to apply comminuted material such as fibrous, iiocculent, and hair-like matter, ground cork, and the like, to the web along with the cement composition. For this purpose a third hopper 58 may be provided (Fig. 1) having afeed roll 59 forming the bottom thereof. The hopper 58 and the feed roll 59 are positioned so as to apply the material to substantially the point of contact between the impeller 36 and the feed roll 3|. stances, a guide, such as a chute 51 may be employed to control the point of application of the comminuted material.. The material is thus impelled with the cement composition, against the face of the web. This method ensures an intimate contact between the material and the cement composition so that the comminuted material is in effect individually` coated with cement as itis applied to the web. The feed roll 59 may be driven by any suitable means, such as by a `belt 60 engaging a pulley 6| rotating with the feed roll 59 and a driving pulley-62 which may be mounted on the shaft 33. The impellers may be covered by a shield 63 to prevent throwing of the cement composition thereby'.

'I'his arrangement may be useful for coating granules or the like with a' coating composition. The granules may be placed inthe hopper 58 and In some inl the coating composition may be placed in the hopper 29. The granules are thus brought into contact with the coating material and are discharged by the brush 36 in a coated condition. By controlling the viscosity of the-coating, the relative speeds of the brush 36 and roll 3|, the point of application of the granules, as well as the amount of wipe of the brush, the granules may be projected in a substantially fully coated condition or coated to any desired extent and with coatings of desired characteristics. They may be collected by the web 22, or the web may be omitted, in which case the coated granules are collected on the conveyor 2| and may be removed in any desired manner.

The pull roll assembly 25 may comprise a pair of vertically displaced rolls 68 carrying an endless belt 69. The web 22 may pass around the lower roll 68 with its coated face in contact with the belt 69 against which it may be pressed by a presser roll 10. The web then passes around the presser roll 18 in contact with the cutter roll 26, the presser roll 18 acting as a backing against which the cutter roll 26 may operate. The cutter roll 26 may be provided with sets of knives 1| which are adapted to penetrate the web 22, but preferably not to engage with the surface of the presser roll 10. It is obvious, however, that if the presser roll 10 is formed of some resilient material the knives 1| may be adjusted to slightly penetrate the same.

The cut web is fed from the machine by the belt 21 which is carried on`suitable rolls 12. A texturing roll 13 may press against the coated face 'of the web ,so as to impart the desired finish thereto. The texturing roll may be made of any suitable material such as rubber and may have a raised design thereon which .is to be impressed into the coated surface.

The pull roll assembly may be driven by suitable means such as a belt pulley 14, associated with th'e roll 18 or either of the rolls 68 may be driven. The cutting roll 2.6 and the rolls 12 carrying the belt 21 may also be driven by suitable gears 11 and 18. y

In some instances it may be desired to cut or shape the web prior tothe application of the cement coating. For'this purpose a cutting roll 19 having knives 88 and a backing roll 8| may engage 'the web 22 ahead of the cement applying mechrolls 82 and the cutting roll 19. The reel 23 may be carried on a suitable support such as a pedestal 85.

The cutting rolls 19 and 26 may be adapted to cut the web into lengths corresponding to shingle elements or groups of shingle elements and may also impress designs, and/or slit the web into desired forms such as to represent spaces between shingles or shingles of irregular shape, or the like. It is to be for example, the roll 19, may shape the web and the other roll 26 may sever the web into lengths or vice versa. If the web is severed by the roll 19 the belt 2| must be driven so as to convey the cut elements past the cement applying mechanism 24. A guide means such4 as a plate 16 may also be used to direct the elements-to the presser understood that one'of the rolls,

roll 70. Il the roll 79 merely shapes the web, the belt 2| may be undriven as the web will be fed by the pull roll assembly 25. Obviously one of the rolls 19 or 26 may be omitted if not required in any particular instance.

The web may constitute asphalt roong material having a granular surface. The cement composition is applied thereto in one or more lay-,

ers from the hoppers 28 and 29 under suicient force to bond firmly to the surface. 'I'he cement may be distributed as desired in accordance with the distribution in the different hoppers or in the chambers of the. hoppers. r The exposed portion of the shingle may thus be mad'e of a different color or a different composition from the portion to be covered by the other courses of shingles.

It is to be understood that divided pieces, such as pressed or molded board or plastic materials, may be fed to the conveyor 2| to be coated by cement or the like or to receive a coating of colored cement for imparting the desired finish. The coated pieces may be removed from the belt 2| ahead of the pull roll assembly if desired, as for example, to, prevent the surface from contacting with a roll after the coating has been applied thereto.

It is obvious that the hopper and brush arrangement may be repeated any desired number oftimes so as to build up a laminated coating on the .web 22. It has been found that the cement may be taken from the hoppers onto the lleed rolls in a thin layer which is beaten onto the web by the impellers. The impellers beat a certain quantity of air into the mixture and produce an open porous layer. In general a thinner layer produces a more open texture. For a thin composition such as a color coating the feed roll may be formed with a fine thread.

'Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which the feed roll 30a is provided with pins 81 which may be variously spaced over the surface thereof and are adapted to engage and pull the composition in the cooperating hopper 28a so as to feed the same to the impeller 35 which is similar to that above described. The sides of the hopper 28a may be recessed as at 88 to provide clearance for the 4pins 87. The bristles of the impeller 35 may be sufliciently ilexible to pass over the pins 81 for removing the composition from the roll 30a. Obviously the pins 81 may be of any desired size or shape and they may be spaced over the roll 30a as required. They may take the ilorm of bars or blades in some instances, or may constitute prongs or bristles, depending upon the material to be fed thereby.

This embodiment-mambo found,f useful, for.

example, if the composition is so adherent as not to feed readily from the hopper orif the composltion is coarse or fibrous.

Figs. s and 9 mustrate an embodiment in which a single hopper is used to successively apply two different materials to the web. 'I'hese figures also illustrate different forms of grooves which may be employed on the feed rolls as well as a somewhat diiferent arrangement of pull rolls.

In this embodiment the web 22 is passed under the cement applying mechanism including a hopper 89, feed rolls 90, 90a. and cooperating impellers 9|, 9|a, on a conveyor belt 2|:similar to that shown in Fig. 1, then to the pull roll assembly 92, the cutting roll 93 and pressing and texturing rolls 94.

More specifically, the rolls 90 and 90a. to-

gether form the bottom of the hopper 89 and disposed whereas, the grooves 96 are circular.'

`It is obvious however that they can be of the same shape and arrangement or may be Varied, as desired.

The hopper 89 may have a transverse baille 97 which divides the hopper into two chambers 99 and 99 adapted to receive different materials for successive application to the web. The baffle 91 may extend downwardly to about the center lines of the rolls 90 and 90a so that a gate is formed between the baille and the surface of each roll. In the case of grooved rolls the baille may contact with the surface of the rolls so as to limit the feed of material to the grooves. Obviously, the grooves may be omitted in some instances in which case the material would be fed as a layer over the surface of the roll, the thickness of which is determined by the dimensions of the space formed between the roll and the baille 97 or between the surfaces of the two rolls if the bale is omitted.

'I'he material adheres to the rolls until engaged by the impellers 9| and 9|a which are rotated at high speed to forcibly inipel the material against the web 22 as described in'the embodiment of Figs. l to 5.

'Ihe impellers 9| and 9|a may be mounted on shafts |00, respectively, and the rolls 90, 90a may be mounted on shafts |02, |03, respectively, said shafts being journaled in suitable bearings carried by the frame |04 of the machine. Power may be applied to a pulley |06 carried by one of the shafts, for example, by the shaft |00. The other shafts may be driven by a set of gears |01 which may be associated therewith in any convenient manner.

'Ihe pull roll assembly 92 may include the rolls ||0, H2, arranged in the form of a triangle around which a belt ||3 is passed. A pressure roll |4 may engage the outside of the belt ||3 between the rolls |||0 and The web 22 is passed under the belt H3 and over the roll ||4 with the coated face held in contact with the belt by the pressure roll ||4. Guide plates ||5, ||6 may be used to direct the web through the pull roll assembly. Such plates are particularly useful if the web is discontinuous or is cut into v short lengths ahead of the pull roll assembly.

A tightening roll-||1 may be mounted above the belt ||3 in a position to engage the surface thereof for holding the belt in tight condition. 'I'he rolls H10, ||2, ||4 may be mounted on suitable shafts ||8 which are journaled in the frame |04. O ne or more of the shafts ||8 may be driven, as by a belt pulley |20.

The web, 22 may pass from the pull roll assembly 92 -to the cutting roll 93 and backing roll |25, which may be Isimilar to the rolls 26 and 'l0 of Fig. 6. The cutting roll 93 may have knives |26 adapted to sever the web or to impress orshape the same as desired. Certain of the knives |26 may, for example,` cut slots to resemble the spacing between shingles and others may sever the' web into lengths corresponding to groups of shingles. The cutting roll '93 may rolls 94 or one of the rolls |3| may be driven from the cutting roll 93 by suitable gears |32. It is to be understood that the rolls 93, 94, |25, and

` anism until they are in condition for removal by |3| are suitably journaled in the frame |04.

In the operation of this embodiment, different l compositions may be used in the chambers 98 and 99. A base 'composition may be placed in the chamber 98, for example, and a surfacing composition may be placed in the chamber 99, or if desired the same composition may be applied from both chambers to form a double coating on the web. The operation is otherwise similar to that of Fig. 1.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate an embodiment for applying dry cement to a wet roll and then impelling the wet mixture to the web. Only the hopper and cement feed mechanism are shown. It is to be understood that this mechanism may be substituted for the corresponding parts of machines of Figs. 1 or 8.

More specifically, Figs. l and 11 show a roll |35, which may be plain or grooved similar to the rolls 30, 3|, 90 or 90a. above mentioned, forming the bottom of a hopper |36. The hopper may have an adjustable gate |31 to control the quantity of cement fed by the roll |35, which gate may be vibrated if desired by a suitable vibrator |38 such as an electric vibrator. Moreover the gate may be variously positioned with respect to the roll and side walls pf the hopper according to the requirements of each particular case.

The cement fed by the roll |35 falls onto a distributing device |40, such as a rotating screen, which may comprise a cylindrical screen mounted on a shaft |4| and driven in any suitable manner.

The cement falls from the distributor |40 to a roll |42 which'may be plain or grooved, similar to the roll |35. The surface of the roll |42 vis wetted by a suitable feed mechanism, as for example, a iluted roll |43 rotating in a water tight housing |44 whichA is fed with water from a pipe |45 and discharges through an opening |46 onto theroll |42.

configuration of the iiuted roll |43. The opening may be continuous or may constitute a series.

of perforations along the housing |44 adapted to uniformly wet the surface of the ro1l |42.' A to prevent water from following the surface of the roll |42 and dripping onto the web.

The' cement is hydrated upon contact with the wet surface of the roll |42 and is adapted to set when impelled onto the web 22 by a rotating impeller 35 operating in a manner similar to the impeller 35 above described. This embodiment is particularly useful with `quick setting' or flash setting lcements as the water is applied at the time of" use of the cement. It also permits the e 'quantity of water and the consistency of the cement to' be maintained substantially constant for extended periods.

This embodiment is also useful for applying adhesive coatings with granules or the like. The

granules may be supplied from the hopper |39-v and the adhesive material may be applied to the The quantity of water is determined by the speed of rotation and by the surface of the roll |42. The granules thus become coated with the adhesive and are impelled onto the web 22 by the brush 35. This device may also be used f or coating individual particles. In such cases it is contemplated that the speed of the rotating brush and the extent of wipe of the bristles thereof upon the particles will be adjusted to create a suitable spinning action of the particles to obtain the desired extent of coating. Also the particles may then .be collected on the web 22 and kept in vibration by suitable mechother desired means.

Figs. 12 and 13 show an embodiment in which a plurality of round hoppers |50 are associated with a roll 30a. which corresponds to the roll 30 of Fig. 1.. This construction eliminates corners in which the cement might accumulate and facilitates the proper feed of thefcement to the roll 30a. The two hoppers I 50 may be displaced so as to feed material to different parts of the web or as yto apply different compositions thereto. Obviously the hoppers may be oval or of other shapes in which corners are eliminated.

Fig. 14 shows an arrangement in which wet cement is fed from a hopper |5| by a roll |52 and is transferred from the roll |52 to a rotating brush 53 which throws the same onto the web 22. A scraper bar |54 may scrape the cementcoating from the roll |52 onto the brush |53 as the roll rotates. A shield |55 may be used to lcalirect the cement from the brush |53 onto the we The brush picks the material off the roll and 'carries it around under the guard |55. As soon as it passes the end of the guard it is impelled onto the web by the resilience of the bristles and by centrifugal force.

Figs. 15 and 16 show an embodiment in which hot asphalt or the like may be applied to a web. In this embodiment a roll ,|60 and a brush |6| are heated by Vsuitable means su'ch as steam pipes |62. The roll and brush are preferably made of metal so as to readily conduct heat received from the steam pipes |62. A hot material, such as asphalt, may be supplied from a pipe |63 having a header |64 extending along the roll |60 and being provided with nozzles |65. The layer of asphalt or the like may be spread by a bar |66 to form a smooth coating |61 having a predetermined thickness.

This coating |61 is carried around by the rotating roll |60 and is engaged by the brush |6| which is rotated at a speed to pick off the asphalt and to impel the same as a spray against a web |68. A scraper |69 may scrape the excess asphalt into a sump |10. 'I'he scraper also prevents asphalt from following around the surface of the roll and dripping onto the web |68. Obviously the roll |60 and the brush |6| may be rotated by suitable means such as belt pulleys |10. A hood not shown maybe provided over the roll' |60 and brush |6| or any portion thereof to conreflector may be provided to direct heat to the f area of contact of the roll and brush.

It is .to be understood that by the addition or" an aggregate, which may be deposited onto the roll |60 carrying the adhesive, and/or onto brush |6|, I may build up mastic forms on the moving member below. In some instances it may be unnecessary to heat the brush |6|.'in which case the steam pipe can be omitted. 'I'his device may be used to apply a congealable coating, such as an adhesive o r an emulsion, to any surface such as a felt web of the type above described. It may also be used as a continuous process in connection with the cement applying mechanism to make coated asphalt roofing material.y It may be desirable to provide means to take up wear of the surface of the feed roll. This may be conveniently accomplished as illustrated in Fig. 17 by wrapping a wire |18 around the surface of a feed roll |15, which may be used in a manner similar to the rolls 30, 3|, 98 and 80a above described. The roll |15 may have a grooved surface in which the Wire |18 may be seated or ,it may have a plain surface. In any event, the Wire |113 forms grooves |16 between adjacent convolutions, which are adapted to feed material from a hopper to a rotating brush. The wire |18 may be removed and replaced when worn. This construction is cheap and is adapted to Various uses because diierent sizes of wire or different spacings may be used as required.

The embodiment of Fig. 18 may be used to apply a colored coating to a textured surface. The construction is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 5, in that two hoppers |16, |11 are provided having rolls |18, |18 and brushes i 88, |8|, respectively, operating in the manner above set forth to apply material to a moving web |82. In this embodiment the two hoppers |16, |11 are separated and a texturing roll |83 is disposed therebetween. A free cylindrical screen |88 is disposed around the texturing roll |83 so as to contact with the surface of the web |82. The screen |88 prevents the material on the surface of the web |82 from ymay be made of steel or rubber, provided the screen |84 is used. The screenl |84 may be omitted in certain instances, in which case the roll |83 may be made of rubber so as to prevent the cement from sticking thereto and being thus removed from the web.

In operation a base material such as a plastic cement is applied from the hopper |16 to the web 82, the surface is pressed and textured by the roll |83 and the screen |84, and a nishing coating, such as a colored cement composition may be applied from the hopper |11, after which the web may be removed without causing other objects to come in contact with the coated surface.

It is to be understood that any of the above embodiments may be substituted for the cement feeding mechanism of Figs. 1 or 8, and that various combinations and substitutions may be made within the scope of this invention. It is also to be understood that where hydraulic cement or compositions of similar consistency are employed as the fed material, mechanism for vibrating the coated web, individual elements or conveying mechanism may be incorporated at any point in the machine following any application operation to aid in densifying the fed material before complete setting and in some instances to enable drier or more viscous compositions than would ordinarily be used to be employed and also to obtain where desired, a leveling action. Certain preferred embodiments have been set forth for 'pur" a rotating roll, a hopper extending axially of said roll to discharge a cement composition thereto,

a brush engaging said roll to impel the cement composition onto said base material, means dividing said hopper into a plurality of independent chambers which are axially displaced along said roll so as to supply different compositions to different parts of said base material and a baille associated with said brush to separate the different compositions as they are impelled onto said base material, whereby a sharp line of demarcation is maintained therebetween.

2. In a machine for making cement faced roofing, means to feed a base material to be faced, a rotating roll, hopper means extending axially of said roll to discharge a Wet cement composition thereto, a brush engaging said roll but out of contact with the base to impel the cement composition onto said base material, and said hopper means comprising a plurality of independent chambers which are circumferentially displaced about said roll so as to supply successive layers of different compositions thereto.

3. A device for applying a cement composition or the like to a moving base material. which comprises a hopper for storing a quantity of said composition, a rotating roll forming the bottom of said hopper and adapted to continuously feed predetermined quantities of said composition therefrom, and a rotating impeller engaging said roll to remove the composition from said roll and adapted to forcibly impel the same onto said base material, said hopper having no corners in which said composition can pile up.

4. Feed mechanism comprising a hopper, and a feed roll having a wire wrapped around the surface thereof to form a helical groove adapted to feed material from said hopper.

5. In a surfacing machine means to treat a sludgy material surfacing comprising, a roll positioned to pressure contact said sludgy material and a free rotatable cylindrical apertured element surrounding said roll, said apertured element having a diameter greater than said roll and being free to strip material from said roll.

6. A device for applying a wet cement composition to a roofing base or the like whereby predetermined amounts of the Wet composition are fed, and said composition is securely bonded to said base, which comprises means to support the base to be treated, a hopper for receiving a quantity of said wet composition, rotary feed means positioned to continuously removeI predetermined quantities of wet composition from the bottom of said hopper, impeller means positioned to remove the wet cement composition fromf said feed means and discharge the same upon the base to be treated, and driving means-to rapidly move said impeller means; the impeller means being positioned in proximity to but out of contact with the base to be treated and with its point of dis' charge of said wet cement composition a distance from said base considerably less than its own diameter and that of said feed means, and having such velocity 'as to impart said wet cement composition to the base with suficient force to produce an effective bond between said base and cement composition when the latter has hardened.

'7. A device for applying a wet cement composition to a roong base or. thev like, whereby to obtain substantially uniform distribution of the wet cement composition upon the base, which comprises hopper means for receiving a quantity of the Wet cement composition, a pair of feed means to continuously remove predetermined quantities of the wet cement composition from the hopper means, and a pair of impeller means driven at high speed positioned to remove the wet cement composition from the feed means and having sufficient velocity to discharge the same upon the base to be treated with sufficient force to produce an eiective bond; the pair of impeller means being positioned to discharge separate streams of the wet composition and produce laminae of wet cement composition upon the baseA to be treated upon relative motion of said base and streams of wet cement composition and being positioned with their points of discharge of the wet composition, a distance from the base to be treated less than their own transverse dimension.

8. A device for applying a wet cement composition to a roofing base or the like, whereby to obtains substantially uniform distribution of the wet cement composition upon the base, which comprises hopper means for receiving a quantity of the wet cement composition, a pair of feed means to continuously remove' predetermined quantities ofthe wet cement composition from the hopper means, and a pair of driven rotary meanspositioned to remove the Wet cement composition from the feed means and discharge the same upon the baseto be treated; the pair of rotary means having opposite directions of rotation and being positioned to face each other and discharge separate streams of the wet composition and produce laminae of wet cement composition upon the base to be treated upon relative motion of said base and streams of wet cement composition.

9. The method of forming a thin layer ofcement. composition upon a base material which comprises forciblyimpelling a uniform stream of non-lumpy particles of a'wet cement composition against the base material with sumcient force to' obtain an effective bond, forcibly impelling a second stream of wet composition against the base material before the first portion has set and ap plying said portions as to form laminae thereof to improve hydration of the applied cement layer.

10. The method of applying a wet cement composition to a base material having a rough textured surface to'fully coat the portion to be `treated which comprises forcibly impelling a uniform stream of particles of said composition against the material toI cover a predetermined area, forcibly impelling a second uniform stream 'of said composition against the base material over the same area before the first deposit has set, applying said portions as to form laminae thereof, and applying vtheir trajectories are oppositely directed with re.

` therewith at the spect to the plane of said base material.

11. Apparatus for applying bands of wet composition to a base, comprising means to receive supplies of wet com tion of contrastingl visual effect, moving means to withdraw said contrasting compositions in adjacent bands upon its surface from said supply-means and centrifugal impeller means having baille means associated line of separation between the fed bands of contrasting effect, to impelsaid compositions to the hase and produce similar bands of contrasting visual eifect having substantially sharp lines of demarcation thereon.

12. A device for applying a wet cement compomtion or the like to a base whereby said composition is securely bonded thereto. which comprises means to support a base to be treated, a hopper forreceiving a quantity of cement composition. a feed roll forming when said coating is hardened. said. portions such that vcertain of which include fibre,

-inae of said particles. the bottom of the. NO

hopper to remove, predetermined amounts of wet cement composition from the hopper, a rotary bristle impeller positioned out of contact with the base but in proximity thereto, and-positioned to remove predetermined amounts of cement composition from the feed roll and discharge a sub-A stantially uniform stream thereof upon said base surface, the point of discharge of said composition by tsaid impeller being also in proximity to said base, and there being means to move said impeller at a higher surface speed than said feed roll, and the position of said point of discharge and the velocity of said distributor being such as to cause impingement of said wet .cement composition upon the base with sufficient force to produce an effective bond between the base and cement composition when thev latter has hard-- ened.

13. A method of applying coating material by an applying means to a base having a textured surface characterized by a plurality of protuberances and depressions therebetween, and which base and applying means have relative motion with respect to each other and substantially parallel to the plane of the surface to be coated, which comprises applying at least two continuous. applications of coating material overa common area of said base, each application comprising a coating stream characterized by the traiection of particles thereof by a rotary impeller, directing the average trajectory of said coating streams oblique to the plane of the surface to be coated and directing one stream in the direction of relative motion'of said surface, and directing the second opposed to said relative motion.

14. In the process of forming cement coated roofing, the steps which comprise, providing a roofing base having a surface to receive a cement coating, moving said base relative to a source of supply of cement coating composition, feeding a predetermined layer of said composition from said source of supply, moving said layer to a point in close proximity to said coating receiving surface, forcibly impelling a stream of particles of said composition layer against said receiving surface while the latter is moving and in a manner as to vproduce a substantially continuous coating` thereon, said particle stream being charscte by the trajection of said particles by a rapidly moving impeller, and said particles being impinged upon said moving base surface with sumcient forceas to be securely bonded to saidbase 15. The method of forming a structure comprising substantially homogeneous superimposed lamina. applications of wet binder composltiom which comprises providing a base upon which to form said structure, moving said base relative to means of supply of said application material. feeding a plurality of separate predetermined layers of said application material from said means of supply, moving said layers to points adjacent said base, and in proximity thereto, said points being spaced apart vin the direction of motion of said base, impelling against said base streams of particles comprising the material of said fed layers while still wet, said streams characterized by the trajection of particles thereof by a rotary. impeller, and moving said base relative to said streams as to successively receive the impinsing particles thereof and produce a structure of united homogeneous 1am- RMAN P. HARSHBIRGER. 

